There is nothing romantic about teargas. Or smoke bombs or rubber bullets or sound cannons.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the harsh realities of protest and civil unrest, devoid of glamor or romance.
Deray Mckesson's quote serves as a stark reminder that the tools used to suppress dissent—such as teargas, smoke bombs, and rubber bullets—are violent and inhumane. It emphasizes that there is nothing noble or romantic about the struggle against oppression; rather, it involves real danger and suffering. This perspective encourages a deeper understanding of the struggles faced by activists and the true gravity of their fight for justice.
In practice
Using this quote during a rally to remind participants of the seriousness of their actions.
If you close your eyes and think about where you feel the most safe, you're probably not going to tell me it's in a room full of police. You feel safe where you're around people that love you, when you have food and shelter, when you're being pushed to be your best self and learn.
Laws on hate speech and hate crimes do important work in a world that has been rooted in racism and bigotry since the inception of this country, which was not founded on ideals of justice.
So many of us don't know what we want; we just know we don't want what we have. We spend 99% of the time talking about how bad it is, but only 1% of the time talking about how we can do something about it.
I just couldn't believe that the police would fire tear gas into what had been a peaceful protest. I was running around, face burning, and nothing I saw looked like America to me.
The difference between equity and equality is that equality is everyone get the same thing and equity is everyone get the things they deserve.
Having the courage to take the steps we always wanted to take is the only way of showing that we trust in God.
The crisis is arrived when we must assert our rights, or submit to every imposition, that can be heaped upon us, till custom and use shall make us as tame and abject slaves, as the blacks we rule over with such arbitrary sway.
A great part of courage is the courage of having done the thing before.
For what then matters is to bear witness to the uniquely human potential at its best, which is to transform a personal tragedy into a triumph, to turn one’s predicament into a human achievement.
We may fight terrorism through brute force, but the terror that is unleashed in the name of religion can only be challenged through moral courage.
It was only by luck and the blessings of God that my soldiers did not encounter an assault, that we did not run over an IED. And to dishonor our service by saying we're not worthy of being called combat veterans is insulting to the majority of men and women who serve their country honorably.
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